I just wanted to share how I send out booster packs in the mail for any of my readers who are wondering. Although there are a load of different videos out there on how others like to send them, my method seems to be (from experience) not only the most cost-effective way, but also less likely to arrive damaged.
I am based in the UK and use Royal Mail for all of my packages, but I’m sure that most countries will have a similar postal service!
Okay, let’s break it down to the simple steps I use:
Use a Box
I see a load of videos out there saying that you should sandwich the booster/cards between cardboard, then put them in a bubble jiffy bag, but in my experience, they just end up getting bashed or bent. I wanted my customers to have confidence when they buy from me (most of my main products are nostalgia items, so they can’t be easily replaced!)
I decided to try out a box instead of a bubble mailer, and it was an absolute game-changer!
I think it is more than likely a phycological piece with the staff handling your package, but a box seems to be cared for a lot more than a mailer and i’ve not had a single package reported to be bashed or damaged since using the boxes.
I know what you are thinking, though… It’s more expensive to but the boxes and it’s more expensive to ship them, but it’s not really breaking the bank! I bought a box of 50 of these boxes for £8.94, and if I compare that to what it cost me for the small mailers, it works out at 17p for the box vs 7p for the mailer, so 10p of a difference for complete peace of mind, better seller ratings and avoiding any returns/refunds.
In terms of sending the box via Royal Mail, it’s literally the same price as a large letter. The boxes are specifically made to be that size, so you’re not actually paying any more money on postage!
Bubble Wrap
Although it might sound obvious, even though it is in a box, bubble wrap will play a vital role in ensuring the box’s integrity through the journey. Bubble wrap, in this instance, does two jobs. It gives the cards an additional buffer, so that if it does receive an impact, it is much less likely to be damaged, but it also fills the empty space in the box to make it much more solid as it travels. If you’re not sure what i mean, when you next have a package, take the bubble wrap out and seal it back up, then give it a squeeze. You will see that the box will give way a lot easier, the tape might come away from the edges and it leaves you open to damaged goods inside!
Tape, Tape and More Tape
As much as I’m sure it is a bit of a pain in the backside when the customers have to get scissors or a knife to open the package, it’s really important to make sure that you really do tape your box up as best you can.
I always go around the package to make sure that any hole, break or open edge is taped over to make sure that no moisture can get in and that the sorting machines don’t accidentally snag onto it and tear it open. It only takes an extra minute or so, but it’s well worth it for peace of mind.
Fragile Stickers
I learned pretty early on that if you don’t have fragile written on your packages, Royal Mail don’t treat them as such. My issue was with a game of Pokémon Yellow that I sent to a customer (it was wrapped up with LOADS of layers and was bomb-proof, but when it arrived, the package was ripped open, covered in water damage and crushed beyond recognition! Royal Mail told me that they didn’t see a fragile sticker on it, so they didn’t want to pay out compensation for it… Which, in my opinon is a complete joke, regardless of what a package is labelled as, it doesn’t mean that they can crush and abuse it as they did to poor Pikachu!
Anyway… The point of that story was that I now ALWAYS go over the top with fragile stickers on my packages and boxes. The labels are really cheap, and not only does it save you if you ever need to claim, it just gives the delivery driver a visual cue that there are potential breakables inside. Win-Win!
I made this video on YouTube, just to give you a visual of what I do. Let me know if you would like to see any more of these kinds of pages on the site!
